Why Labels Say For Intermittent or Supplemental Feeding
Raw Pet Food And AAFCO Article by Dogs Naturally
By DeDe Moffett | August 17, 2020
Raw Pet Food And AAFCO
Article by Dogs Naturally
Raw Food For Dogs By Dr Amy Nesselrodt DVM
Many dog owners and veterinarians find assurance in a food which meets AAFCO nutrient standards. But are the current standards appropriate for raw dog food?
One of the purposes of the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is to oversee nutritional adequacy statements on pet food labels. Although AAFCO statements are intended to assure the available pet foods are “complete and balanced” diets, AAFCO doesn’t regulate, test, approve or certify pet foods. It’s the pet food manufacturers’ responsibility to manufacture the pet food according to AAFCO standards. In fact, the guaranteed analysis of the food and whether or not it truly meets AAFCO nutritional standards may never be verified by a regulatory authority.
Currently, all pet foods carry one of three statements, as approved by AAFCO:
“Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate this product provides complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages of dogs and cats.”